Regional Transportation Update: SH119 and SH7 Corridor Studies, Transit Service Delivery Study and Transportation Funding
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CITY OF BOULDER CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM MEETING DATE: September 26, 2017 AGENDA TITLE: Regional Transportation Update: SH119 and SH7 corridor studies, transit service delivery study and transportation funding PRESENTER/S Jane Brautigam, City Manager Carl Castillo, Policy Advisor, City Manager’s Office Maureen Rait, Executive Director of Public Works Michael Gardner-Sweeney, Director of Public Works for Transportation Kathleen Bracke, GO Boulder Manager, Transportation Jean Sanson, Senior Transportation Planner, GO Boulder Natalie Stiffler, Senior Transportation Planner, GO Boulder EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this study session is to provide City Council with an opportunity to discuss regional transportation initiatives, including 1) multimodal corridor planning along East Arapahoe/SH7 and Diagonal Highway/SH119, 2) the city’s Renewed Vision for Transit – Service Delivery Study and 3) current transportation funding opportunities and challenges. This memo also provides background on Boulder’s Regional Travel focus area policies and recent accomplishments. This study session is timely and important due to current regional discussions occurring with the City of Boulder, Boulder County, US36 Mayors and Commissioners Coalition, Commuting Solutions, Northwest Area Chamber Alliance and additional agency partners, including the Regional Transportation District (RTD), Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). Feedback from this study session will be used to inform representation by city officials (both staff and council members) in the various forums that provide opportunities to further the implementation of Boulder’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP). KEY ISSUES IDENTIFIED Key issues related to this regional transportation update include: • Background information regarding Boulder’s TMP “Regional Travel” focus area policies. • Updates regarding regional multimodal corridor plans, including arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and commuter bikeways along: o East Arapahoe/SH7 from Boulder to Brighton, and o Diagonal Highway/SH119 from Boulder to Longmont • Update regarding the city’s Renewed Vision for Transit – Service Delivery Study, and • Review of TMP investment policies and transportation funding challenges and opportunities (local, regional, state and federal) QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL 1. Does Council have any questions or suggestions regarding the city’s vision for, adopted policy positions and strategic approach for the regional SH119 and SH7 corridor planning studies? 2. Does council have any questions or suggestions regarding progress to date, implications and current direction of the city’s Transit Service Delivery Study? 3. Does council have any questions or suggestions regarding the city’s vision, adopted policy positions or strategic approach for pursuing regional, state and federal transportation funding? BACKGROUND The city’s local and regional transportation initiatives are guided by Boulder’s TMP, which includes five inter-related focus areas: Complete Streets, Regional Travel, Transportation Demand Management (TDM), Funding and Integrated Sustainability Initiatives. This study session highlights the “Regional Travel” and “Funding” Focus Areas and provides an overview of on-going action items identified to achieve Boulder’s regional goals. The TMP Regional Travel policies support greater mode choice for Boulder residents, students, visitors and non-resident employees and encourage regional travel options through transit/BRT, bicycling and ridesharing—all while recognizing that regional travel is projected to increase dramatically over the next 25 years. These policies are informed by and align with the TMP’s overall goals of enhancing safety and mobility for people of all ages and stages of life, as well as support Boulder’s community goals for Economic Vitality and meeting our Climate Commitment. The city’s regional transportation planning approach is also informed by RTD’s FasTracks–Northwest Area Mobility Study recommendations. To accomplish these inter-connected goals, the TMP’s Regional Travel policies and strategies encourage city staff and elected officials to participate in regional coalitions with neighboring communities and agency partners to advance the planning, funding and implementation of regional multimodal capital projects, transit/mobility service improvements and enhanced TDM programs. Examples of the city’s participation in regional initiatives are provided below: • The City of Boulder’s representative to the US36 Mayors and Commissioners Coalition (MCC) is Mayor Suzanne Jones. The US36 MCC has an agreed-upon policy statement among the participating communities and counties. The coalition’s priority projects include completion of the remaining US36 multimodal corridor improvements, as well as new regional arterial BRT and commuter bikeways along the Diagonal/SH119, East Arapahoe/SH7, 28th Street, Broadway and South Boulder Road as well as other regional routes identified in RTD’s Northwest Area Mobility Study. In addition, the coalition supports continuing the pursuit of a community or region-wide Eco Pass and other TDM programs, first/final mile connections, station-area wayfinding improvements, implementation of railroad quiet zones and holding RTD responsible for completion of northwest area FasTracks commitments. Through her role with the US36 MCC, Mayor Jones also serves as the city’s representative on the SH119 and SH7 Policy Advisory Committees to be a voice for the Boulder community throughout these more detailed corridor planning processes. Details regarding the US36 MCC policy statement is provided in Attachment A and a summary of US36 MCC regional priorities is provided in Attachment B. • The City of Boulder’s representatives to the DRCOG Board of Directors include City Council members Aaron Brockett and Matt Appelbaum. Through their participation on the Board, they work with other elected officials from the Denver Metro area to create and implement the regional 2040 Metro Vision Plan, which guides regional transportation planning and investment priorities for federal transportation funding through DRCOG’s multi-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) process. • City Council member Mary Young is the city’s designated representative on RTD’s regional Pass Program Working Group. This working group is currently reviewing and making recommendations to the RTD staff and Board members to address existing challenges and offer new options for improving RTD’s rider pass programs. • Council members Jan Burton and Lisa Morzel are the city’s designated liaisons to the regional Commuting Solutions Transportation Management Association and are invited to attend quarterly membership events regarding regional and statewide transportation projects and funding initiatives. • In addition, Carl Castillo, Policy Advisor with the City Manager’s Office, collaborates with City Council and staff to develop the city’s annual legislative policy agenda topics, including regional transportation and funding initiatives, and coordinates with agency partners to advance these policies through regional, state and federal partnerships. Through the city’s active involvement in these regional coalitions, the following are several recent accomplishments that advance Boulder’s regional travel policies and priorities: • US36 corridor improvements, including the Flatiron Flyer Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, managed/express lanes and commuter bikeway connecting the Boulder community with the Denver metro area. This significant accomplishment required years of involvement by the city and regional partners along with state and federal elected officials to bring about the public/private financing to complete this complex set of multimodal improvements. The successful US36 approach of incorporating managed lanes, BRT and a parallel commuter bikeway is considered the role model for future corridor projects in the northwest region. Work continues to fully complete the US36 improvements: o Cities and counties along US36, along with Commuting Solutions, are partnering to design and implement regionally-coordinated wayfinding signage at Flatiron Flyer BRT stations to improve ease for people connecting with the regional and local transit routes and bikeways. New corridor wayfinding signage is planned for installation in late 2017/early 2018. o On-going coordination with RTD continues to achieve increased Flatiron Flyer BRT service to Boulder Junction, add back mid-day express service on Broadway and further improve service to/from Denver International Airport to better serve existing and future transit customers. • Inter-regional FLEX express transit service operating between Boulder and Fort Collins along SH119 and US2887 through a partnership with City of Boulder, Boulder County, Longmont, Loveland and Fort Collins. The existing grant funding for operating the FLEX express service ends in December 2018, and communities/counties are currently working together to explore future funding opportunities and partnerships to continue this inter-regional express service beyond 2018. • Initial grant funding to begin implementation of railroad quiet zones was secured through a regional partnership with City of Boulder, Boulder County, Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield, Westminster and Longmont. The cities/county are working together to submit a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant application in October 2017 to request funding for completing